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Patented dam ll, W270 A E d WALTER ll. BOHREIBER; 0E BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO U. INDUSTEM ALCOHOL 00., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

NONCORROSIVE ALCOHOL COMPOSITION,

No Drawing. Application filed april 6,

My invention relates particularly to a composition made by introducing an inhibiting material in an alcohol so as to inhihit, retard or prevent the corrhsion of containers used for transporting and storing the same. It also relates to the combination of a container with such composition therein enabling the material to be transported and stored over long periods of time. Furthermore, it relates to the process of protectingsuch containers.

Previously serious losses have occurred due to the corrosion of containers, and particularly containers made in part of tin plate, terne plate or iron, by reason of the fact that commercial grades of alcohols, and particularly completely denatured ethyl alcohol, have a deleterious action thereon, resulting in the corrosion of the containers and, frequently, discoloration of the liquid, as well as destruction of the container and loss of the contents due to leakage, etc. lhis corrosion seems to be due principally to the other constituents therein, such as aldehydes, acids, water or dissolved gases, as well as denaturants such as wood alcohol, pyridines, hydrocarbons, ether, acetone, esters, n1trobenzol, and their congeneries, etc, attacking the metal of the container. lt isthe object of my invention to avoid such losses by introducing into the alcohol a material which will serve to inhibit, that is to say, delay or prevent, partially or wholly, the action of the contents upon the contalner when made of materials that would be corrodible it the protecting material were not present. While this has application generally to alcohols 01" the paraffin series that are soluble in water, as, for example, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, etc., and containers where such corrosion would occur, it is particularly useful in connection with commercial ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol and products made therefrom such as, for example, carbon removers, motor fuels, primers for internal combustion engines, and liquids used for anti-freeze purposes. Also, while my invent1on applies to alcohols generally wherever such corrosion would result, containing other constituents of various kinds, it is especially applicable to commercial ethyl alcohol or denatured alcohol when containing water or added constituents as wood alcohol, pyri- 1926. Serial Ito. IOILQOQL.

dine, hydrocarbons, ether, acetone, esters, nittro-benzol or other impurities or denaturan S.

In carrying out my invention 1 preferably utilize a soap which is soluble in the liquid,

although I have found that there are other materials which will serve the purpose in varymgdegrees, as, for example, the higher fatty acids such as palmitic, oleic or stearic acid or other higher fatty acids. The soaps which I prefer to use in this connection are the soluble alkali soaps as sodium or potassium soaps formed from the higher fatty acids as, for example, palmitic, steario or oleic acid, or from any of the ordinary acids and bases customarily used in making soaps. I can, if desired, use rosin soap, thatis to say, a soap made from rosin and an alkali. In fact I may use for this purpose any material which will form an insoluhle compound with the metal hydrates or salts formed on the container hy the constituents of the alcohol, and preferably a material which lowers the surface tension of the liquid. These protective materials are use ful in connection with any commercial grade of alcohol where their presence in the alcohol does not interfere with the use of the same. For example, in making commercial alcohol free from any substantial corrosive action upon a metal container, as in the case of tin plate, terne plate or iron, etc, for example, 1 may add to the alcohol an amount of ordinary soap, as, for example, a soap made from sodium hydroxide and free fatty acids, in the usual way in an amount from traces up to an amount sufiicient to form a saturated solution of the soap in the liquid. For example, I may use 0.25 grams of the soap to cc. of the liquid, or about 2 pounds of the soap to 100 gallons of the liquid. This last-mentioned proportion will be followed particularly in the case of denatured alcohol having the following composition:

100 parts by volume, ethyl alcohol not less than proof; 2 parts by volume approved wood alcohol; .25 parts by volume pyridine bases; .50 parts by volume approved benzine (kerosene). However, a much smaller amount of the soap may be found efi'ective for this purpose, as, for example, 0.038 grams per 100 cc. It will be understood, also, that the amount of the soap to be used for this purpose will vary to some extent, according to the kind of soap used and thenature of the alcohol composition. In fact, 1t 1810111111 that satisfactor results in this connect on ma be obtaine by, in some instances, using as ow. as 0.01 grams of ordinary soap in 100 cc. of an alcohol composition up to .the saturation point of the soap in the alcohol.

The soap may be introduced into the liquid in any desired way, but preferably I dimolve the same therein by dlssolvmg ordinary soap1 in the form of flakes, for example, in t e alcohol in the proportlon such as above referred to. The soa goes into solution and any remaining se iment may be filtered out or not, if desired.

An alcohol thus prepared will avoid any ap reciable corrosion of the containers, as well as consequent discoloration and loss of the contents;

, Also, by using the soap 1n the small percentages given above, that is to say, from 0.01 grams to 100 cc. of the alcohol up to an amount sufficient to make a saturated solution, the protectingl effect is secured without interfering wit the commerclal uses to which the alcohol is applicable.

While the theory of the protective action is not entirely. certain it is probable that the non-corrosivelfect is due to the formation of a protective layer which adheres to the surface of the metal to protect the metal from the action of the impurities in the alcohol, such as aldehy-des, acids, etc.' This protective layer is formed by the soap or a other protective material producing an insoluble soap with the metal hydrates or salts formed on the container. This results in inhibiting the chemical action on the container inasmuch as the protecting materials,

.comprised of the film of insoluble soap formed and the accumulated soluble materialat the liquid-metal interface, prevent the access ofthe said impurities to the walls of the .container.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that man Johanges may be made therein a without eparting from the spirit of the same. 1

I claim:

' 1. In combination, a metal container having therein a non-corrosive alcohol compositioncontaining a soap forming material, .5 which compositlon would corrode the con- 'tainer if said soap forming material were absent.

. 2. In combination, a metal container having therein a non-corrosive alcohol compositlon containmgsoap, which composition would corrode the container if said 'soap were absent.

,3. In combination, a metal container having therein a non-corrosive ethyl alcohol- "composition containing a soap forming material which com osition would corrode the contamer if said soap forming material were not present.

4. In combination, a metal'container having therein a non-corrosive ethyl alcohol composition containing soap, which composition would corrode thecontainer if said soap were absent.

5. In combination, a metaLcontainer having therein a non-corrosive ethyl alcohol composition containing a soap formin material, which composition would corr e the contamer if said soap forming material were absent, said soap forming material being present in an amount from 0.01 gram to each 100 cc. of the liquid up to a saturated solution.

6. In combination, a'metal container havmg therein a non-corrosive eth 1 alcohol composition containing soap, w 'ch composition would corrode the container if said soap were absent, said soap being present in an amount from 0.01 gram to each 100 cc. ofthe liquid up to a saturated solution.

7. In combination, a metal container havmg therein a non-corrosive ethyl alcohol composition containing a soap formin ma-- terial, which composition would corro e the container if said soap forming material were absent, said soap forming material being 96 present in an amount of approximatel 0.038 grams for each 10000. of the liqui 8. Incombination; a metal container havmg therein a non-corrosive ethyl alcohol composition containing soap, which compo- I00 sition would corrode the container if said soap were absent, said soap being present in an amount of approximately 0.038 grams of the soap for eac 100 cc. of the li uid. v

9. A-composition containing ethy alcohol and a soap forming material adapted to inhibit corrosion of a metal containerrin an amount approximately 0.038 grams of the soap to each 100 cc. of the liquid.

10. A composition containing ethyl alcohol and soap adapted to inhibit corrosion of a metal container-in an amount ofapproximately 0.038 grams of the soap to each.'100 cc. 'of.the liquid.

' 11: The process which comprises protect-l I ing'a metal container from corrosion b positing an insoluble soap on the walls the same. 12. The process which comprises protectmg a metal container from corrosionby de-,120 poslting an insoluble soap on the walls of the same from an alcohol solution of a material adapted to form the insoluble soap with the metal of the container.

13. The process which comprises protecting a metal container from corrosion by depositing an insoluble soap on the walls of the same from an alcohol solution of a soap. 14. The process which comprises protectmg a metal container from corrosion by-depositing an insoluble soap on the walls of positing an insoluble soap on the walls of the same from an alcohol solution of a mathe same from an alcohol solution of a soap, terial adapted to form the insoluble soap said solution containing also an organic acid. 10 with the metal of the container, said solu- In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I 5 tion containing also an organic acid. have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of 15. The 1process which comprises protect- March, L926. ing a meta container from corrosion by de- WALTER T. SCI-IREIBER. 

